Extension cord connection lock



arch 22, 1949. Ross 2,464,893

' EXTENSION CORD CONNECTION LOCK Filed Aug. 21, 1945, 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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A. R. ROSS EXTENSION CORD CONNECTION LOCK March 22, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed- Aug. 21 1945 //WNTO/a HAL 15/1 7?. E05: 7

Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT ()F-Fl CE EXTENSION .CORD CONNECTIONLOCK Allen H. Ross, Seattle, Wash.

. .-Ap.plication August.21, 1945, Serial No.i611;716

5 Claims.

This invention relates to electric connector "retainers and has reference more particularly 'to'means whereby a plugged-in connector of an electric circuit may beret-ainedagainst accidental ':-withdrawal or displacement from thezsocketmemher to which it is "applied; it being the-principal object of this invention to provide connector retainers ofsimplified-construction that are easy 'vto apply and remove; that are adjustable to suit the-particular connection to which. they may *be applied, and efficient and effectiveifor "their intended use.

More specifically stated, itiis theobject of this invention to provide an electric connector retainer comprising a housing of novel character that maybe readily applied about the plug and soc'ketmembers of the electrical connection in position to holdingly engage with each, and a clamping sleeve that may 'be'removablyapplied about'thehousing tocau-se itto' holdingly engage with'the joined parts to prevent their being pulled apart.

'Another object-of' this invention is to embody the-present invention in various alternative or modified forms of construction in order that connections made by various types of plugs, sockets and fixtures maybe accommodated.

It is also an object of this invention to'provide "connector retainers that are applicable to wall ing "drawings; "wherein- .Fig. 1 isa perspective viewpf-a conn'ectorre- "tainer embodiedby thepresent invention as funcvtionallyapplied to theplu-gand socket members .vbf anelectricalconnection.

Fig."2"-is a perspective-view or the parts of the connector retainer shown in separatedrelation- .shipforibetter disclosure'o'f details and functional characteristics.

2 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the-connector as functionally applied.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig.5 is a -central,longitudinal section of a connector retainer of another alternative form.

Fig.6 is a cross sectional viewoi the same taken -=on line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is-a perspectiveview of'a connector retainer of still another alternative form.

form of connection designed for wall box application.

.Fig. 13 is a sectional view of still another modification.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

First, in order to impart a better understanding of the purpose and'mode of use of the present connector retainer, I have shown in various views, as in Figs. 1. and'3, an electrical circuit connection made between a socket member designated by reference character .9 and a plugged in member referred to asthe plug and designated by refereii'e character 9. It is understood that the member 12 is equipped with the usual contacts or prongs a: to which electrical circuit wires are connected Within the plug, and also that the socket member is equippedin the usual manner with socket "contacts therein-tobeengaged'by the prongs of the-plug to complete'the circuit connections between the plug and socket member when they are joined.

The circuit wires-leading to the plug are .de-

signated generally at d in Figs. land '3, and it is understood that the socket member may, in turn, be'threade'd into a socket fixture f as shown, and

to which circuit connections g lead.

"It-is not the intent that the'presentconnector retainer shouldbe restricted to any particular type or style of connection, but that it be moreor less universally applicable t'o'present-day types from the socket member.

of electrical connections of the plug and socket types.

The device that is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 inclusive shows a connector retainer comprising complemental opposite side portions which are designated in their entireties in Fig. 2 by the reference characters A and B. Each comprises a somewhat semi-cylindrical, sleeve-like portion l0, designed to form one side of a retainer housing. Each is formed at one end with a narrow, inturned flange II, as observed in Fig. 3. The sleeve portions l may be of plastic, metal or other suitable material, and the two parts are of the same size and may be brought together, coaxially alined, as in Figs. 1 and 4, to form an enclosing case or housing which would be of such diameter and length as to closely contain therein a plug and socket member which had been assembled to make an electrical connection, as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

It is a feature of this particular embodiment of the device that the housing .formed by the assembled parts I0 is slightly tapered toward that end which is away from the ends equipped with the flanges II. The reason for this presently will be apparent.

Applied within each of the complemental housing members is an abutment block f5 shaped to flt the inside surface of the housing piece to which it is applied and slidable therealong. When the complemental parts of the housing are applied to the opposite sides of a plug and socket member, as shown in Fig. 3, then the two block members l5 are brought into registration and together form a stop or abutment that may be;

readily shifted into engagement with the outer end of the plug to retain it against Withdrawal These blocks l5 have their engaging surfaces longitudinally channeled, as at Him, to provide a central or axial passageway for the easy passage of the cord or electrical connection :1 between them without their interference with the fitting of the parts together. A split sleeve or band is provided to be applied about the assembled parts A and B to hold them functionally in position about connected plug and socket members.

Assuming the parts of the connector retainer, in its embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, to be so constructed, they would be applied and used as follows: First, the plug member is applied to the socket member. Then the opposite side portion IU of the retainer housing, each with a block [5 seated therein, are applied to the plug and socket from opposite sides; the end flanges ll of the parts l0 being hooked over the shoulder of the socket member and the blocks l 5 being pushed up in the housing tightly against the lower or base surface of the plug. Then the clamping sleeve 20 is slipped onto the assembled parts and adjusted therealong, from the smaller toward the larger end, and by this movement it tightens about the housing, drawing the parts inwardly and thereby efiectively retaining the abutment blocks I 5 from any releasing movement.

It will be apparent that when the parts have been so applied and clamped together, the blocks l5 and the flanges l'lwill coact to retain the plug against withdrawal from the socket member. However, to release the retainer, it is only necessary to slip the sleeve endwise from the smaller end of the housing and to separate the opposite side portions thereof. thus to disengage the plug so that it may be withdrawn.

It is illustrated best in Figs. 2 and 3 that the lower end portions of the housings I0 which form the opposite side members of the retainer are formed with inturned flanges Hm. These flanges aid in the assembly of the parts, in that they will retain the blocks l5 against slipping endwise from the housing while the parts are being assembled and before the clamping ring 20 has been applied. It is anticipated further that these flanges Ha: may serve also as a support for a short, coiled spring such as that which has been shown at 23 in Fig. 3, which will operate to automatically urge the blocks l5 up toward the base of the plug preparatory to the application of the clamping ring 20 to the assembled parts.

It will be understood that when the spring is used, it is merely necessary to apply the opposite side members of the retainer to the connection. The spring automatically shifts the retainer blocks up against the base of the plug and when the clamp ring 20 is applied, all the parts will be held tightly assembled without any looseness permitted in the connection between the plug and socket member.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown an alternative construction wherein the retainer housing comprises two semi-cylindrical portions lb and lilb, each with inturned flanges llb at its opposite ends. The parts Hlb are hinged at corresponding edges, as at 2|, to open apart and to close together. The length of this housing is such that when applied to a connection, they will holdingly engage with the outer ends or surfaces of the plug and socket members. A split sleeve 22 is applicable about the parts when applied to the connection, to hold the retainer in place, and this sleeve may be slipped clear of the hinged parts for release of the device from the connection.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein the retainer housing is formed by two complemental opposite side portions I Be and lllc of cylindrical form, adapted, as are the corresponding parts of the device of Fig. 1, to be assembled together, edge to edge, to form the retainer housing. These parts, at one end, have the inturned retainer flanges llc adapted to hook over the shoulder or rim of the socket member and the diameter and length of the housing formed is such as to closely contain the plug and socket in the flanged end.

Fixed within each semi-cylindrical part We is an abutment block I50 which may be of wood or other suitable material so arranged that when the retainer housing comprised by the two parts lilo-10c is applied as in Fig. 7, the blocks will then engage against the outer end surface of the plug to retain it seated. These blocks I50 are generally of the same character as those of the device of Fig. l, but areadjustably fixed in place for endwise adjustment to accommodate the length of connection to which they are applied.

In order that the two complemental parts,

,when assembled, may be held against transverse slippage one onthe other, the semi-cylindrical blocks are fixed within their respective housing members I00 in such manner that one edge of the housing will-project beyond the corresponding edge of the block l5c. This is best illustrated in Fig. 8. With this relationship of housings and blocks, it is apparent that when the complemental parts are brought into ,assembled relationship, the joint surfaces between the edges of housings iwill be. radially offset from the joint formed'between'the block surfaces.

The en'dwise adjustment of the blocks is provided for by securing them together by means of screws .that are extended through slots 26 formed lengthwise in the housing members. The screwshave heads that are adapted to be tightened-againstthehousings to secure the blocks at any definite spacing from the end "flanges.

After theopposite side blocks and housings have "been-applied as-in Fig. 7, they may be clamped wardly. This housing may be applied about the assembled plug and socket as the devices of Figs. 1 or 7. Fitted within the lower end of this sleeve is an abutment plug I5d, of one or more parts, designed to engage against the lower end of the plug to prevent its being withdrawn from the socket. A collar 20d or split ring is applied to the slotted end of the housing to clamp the parts in their assembled relationship.

Yet another modification of the invention has been shown in Fig. 11. This anticipates that the retainer be applied about either the socket member or plug member prior to the application of the plug to the socket. As shown in Fig. 11, the retainer comprises a one-piece sleeve-like housing that is applied about the connected plug and socket members. It has an outer end wall 4! formed with an opening through which the socket member is applied with the shoulder of the socket member seated against the end wall and contained within the housing. The cylindrical body of this housing is longitudinally slotted to provide a plurality of fingers 43 with inturned ends 44. These fingers have an outward springing tendency that causes them, when unrestrained, to diverge, and to be held disengaged from the plug.

Slidable on the housing is a collar or clamp member 45, also having an outer end wall with opening through which the socket member eX- tends. This collar may be slipped down along the fingers 43 to press them inwardly, thus to engage the feet 44 with the base of the plug so that it will be held against disconnection from the socket.

When the parts 40 and 45 are applied to a socket member as shown in Fig. 11, then the threading of the socket member into a fixture will retain the clamping sleeve against any releasing movement on the part 40.

This connector retainer may be applied as shown in Fig. 11, or in a reverse position; that is, anchored to the plug and caused to be pressed into holding contact with the shoulder of the socket member.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a device similar to that of Fig. 11, applied to a wall box 46 through an opening 4'! to permit the inturned ends of the fingers 43 to be engaged within an encircling channel 48 in a socket member 49. The clamp member 40, in this showing, has an extended sleeve-like neck 50 about which a clamp collar 45a: is slidably mounted. This has a short neck portion 5| slidable on part 50 and a larger cylindrical portion that slips over the clamp 40 to press the parts 43 into the groove 48.

In ;Fig. 13 is yet another device :for 'TWflll :box application which contemplates the. securing :of 'a' plate 5.2 to .the'tfac'e of'the wall box .54.:spaced outwardly therefrom and formed with "a .hole registering with the socket member 56. The connector'member in this instance is in the nature of a tubular casing 69 divided or split lengthwise so-thatit may becompressed 'or expanded. At its inner end ithas out-turnedxfianges 6i "and onJtheIinSide-is aring GSadaptedto be engaged against'thebasesof the plug to :hold it in place by projecting the inner end of the casinginto the :plate opening. Then the casing may be held by slipping a sleeve 68 onto the outer end of the casing to contact the casing at this end and by reason of the ring 63, causing the inner end of the case to be expanded and the flanges to hook beneath the plate edge.

Devices of the kind described, embodying the invention in various forms, can be easily and readily applied to or removed from presentday electrical connections, and, when applied, will effectively and safely retain a connection.

Various materials may be employed in the devices, and size and proportion altered or varied to best suit conditions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A connection retainer of the character described comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical housings adapted to be cooperatively assembled to form an enclosing sleeve for connected plug and socket members, and having inturned end flanges serving as retainer stops to prevent disconnection of said members, and a clamp collar removably applicable about said housings when assembled to retain them against disassembly.

2. A connection retainer of the character described comprising a pair of cylindrically curved housings, adapted to be cooperatively assembled to form an enclosing sleeve about a connected plug and socket, and having inturned flanges at one end of the sleeve designed to holdingly engage the socket member and having inturned flanges at the other end of the sleeve, spaced beyond the plug, and abutment blocks disposed in the sleeve adjacent said latter flanges and designed to holdingly engage the plug to prevent its withdrawal from the socket, and a clamp collar removably applicable about the said sleeve to retain its parts functionally assembled.

3. A connection retainer as recited in claim 2 wherein said housings are so formed as to give the sleeve a slight taper away from its plug enclosing end and wherein the said blocks are adjustable lengthwise therein in holding engagement with the plug to prevent its withdrawal from the socket, and wherein the blocks will be retained at any position of adjustment by the housings under the clamping efiect of the collar.

4. A connection retainer as recited in claim 2 wherein said housings are so formed as to give the sleeve a slight taper away from its plug enclosing end and wherein the said blocks are adjustable lengthwise therein in holding engagement with the plug to prevent its withdrawal from the socket, and wherein the blocks will be retained at any position of adjustment by the housings under the clamping effect of the collar, and a coiled spring disposed between the block ends and the flanges at the plug containing end of the sleeve to press the blocks into holding contact with the plug.

5. A connection retainer of the character desleeve.

ALLEN R. ROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,655,095 Henry Apr. 3, 1928 1,874,334 Nero Aug. 30, 1932 10 1,989,823 Raabe Feb. 5, 1935 2,406,030 O'Brien Aug. 20, 1946 

